Decor & Renovation

Here's why you should use royal blue to decorate for the holidays

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An out-of-the-ordinary colour palette offers a modern spin on holiday decor.

When you think of Christmas, blue is likely not the first colour that comes to mind. The hue can bring stylish elegance to a home during the holidays, though, especially when you're going for traditional with a twist.

"This home is so extraordinary that it requires an unexpected colour palette," says interior designer Wendy Reimer of Reimer Design. She's referring to the main floor of a storied Victorian mansion (think barrel-vaulted ceilings and quarter-sawn herringbone floors) in Oakville, Ont., that she decorated in blue for the holidays with the help of event planner Laura Olsen.

From the cane-back French seating to the star topper on the tree, every beautiful bit hails from Bash Panache, Reimer's posh Greater Toronto Area–based event-rental company. In the home, there's nary a traditional red or green bauble in sight. "Instead, blue and white provide more memo­rable impact," says Reimer. "The palette reminds me of the crispness and brightness of snow. I knew I could really make it sing by adding vibrant and sunny gold tones for balance and warmth."

A good example is the cozy family room. Sparkly gold- and sapphire-toned ornaments are tucked into the tree that plays off the striking mostly blue (of course) painting over the fireplace. And where are the conventional garlands and stockings? "I intentionally left the mantel unadorned," says Reimer, "so the painting, the furniture and the tree can be the focus."

The result throughout the gorgeously glammed home is refreshing and festive. Or, as Reimer puts it, "fun, fresh, bold and colourful." Who says blue isn't for Christmas?

SEAT SELECTION

Photography: Donna Griffith

Reimer brought in shapely garden stools (they can be used as tables or seating) as a creative way to incorporate colour. For a refined feel, gifts are wrapped in elegant neutral papers, including blue-and-white ticking stripes and mini golden Christmas trees.

TOSS & TURN

An easy way to inject seasonal sass into a room is to switch up the toss cushions. For con­trast and impact, Reimer used a mix of patterns, hues and textures: gold velvet, damask, stripes and white linen.

JEWEL TONE

NOW YOU SEE IT

Photography: Donna Griffith

Blue accessories animate the classic pale subway-tile-clad kitchen, set for breakfast on Christmas morning. "The modern steel-and-acrylic stools disappear on their own, so I added custom blue damask cushions to anchor them," says Reimer.

GREEN LIGHT

"Greenery goes a long way," says Reimer. "On the kitchen counter, we laid fresh evergreen sprigs between the settings." In addition, some are tucked into a velvet ribbon that holds enamelled white flatware.